News – Weekend Edition

Some weekend info and thoughts, mixed with straight up links from several sources. matters continue to progress without sure sign of just what can be expected.

We have Slate’s report card on the war profiteers and their spam assaults on the net.

One question that is valid now is, did the rest of the bad, bad people get the message? And if they did get a message, what message was that? Personally, I don’t think the fullness of what has occurred in the last year has given the right one. What do you think?

One thing that has really annoyed me is how Rumsfeld continues to dismiss chaos in Iraq. His reasoning is somewhat disturbing, as if lawlessness is ok for a people just liberated. I just hope they get that stuff under control eventually.

That it seems possible the US has formed its own unilateral inspection teams throws into doubt if the Bush Administration realizes or cares about its international believability gap. Some Americans might eat up anything said from on high, but when you cross the ocean the same isn’t true. There will invariably be allegations of evidence tampering and planting, even if such allegations are false. With UN teams there would be a greater credibility to fight such statements. Right or wrong, common sense dictates embracing the UN.

Fortunately it seems that North Korea might be interested in multilateral talks, finally. We can only hope it pans out.

Add to that the general fact that US and European relations seem on the skids in general, that gap seems destined to widen unless something is done.

After the UN said a bit ago that the US forces might be violating the Geneva Convention by not making sure hospitals and the like are secure, British forces are getting the same suggestion from a university professor.

Saddam’s science advisor has surrendered to US forces, still insisting that there are no chemical weapons in Iraq. You’d think he’d tell the truth now that Saddam’s influence on him is nil, hmm?

Iraq’s prisons, long scenes of injustice and torment for many are a subject of much attention by the people of Iraq. Many are going to them to seek information on loved ones lost within their dark halls, yet they may find little as the general state of disorder hasn’t left them untouched. With papers potentially scattered or destroyed, they may not be able to discover what they seek.

Some think Franklin Graham should stay out of Iraq. Largely because his charity is on its way to Iraq, not only to render aid(which is good), but with the likelihood of evangelizing Christianity to Iraqis, which, while not illegal, is a really bad idea right now. The potential for such action, good intentioned or not, to raise the level of strife in the Middle East, is worrying.

Adding to Israel’s mistakes, Israeli military shot a British activist(wearing one of those bright vests) once in the head as he seemed to be moving to help a palestinian woman and her children from the line of fire. No comment as it is being investigated, but I doubt that we’ll hear anything on this one, just as we’ve heard nothing from the last few incidents of oopsie.

Considering Israel’s dubious outlook on the ‘road map’ of peace with Palestine, incidents like this seem destined to continue. And, for the most part, I don’t see any reasons that Israeli officials should care about Palestine at the moment. With the pro-Israel stance of the US government and general slap on the rest they get anytime they do something bad, there is absolutely no motivation for them to seek peace. They can continue to bulldoze homes of suspected terrorists, kill any Palestinian they suspect and dismiss civilian casualties as no one calls them on it from the US administration. Fortunately the people seem to recognize it. And others think otherwise, of course. A good layout of opinions there, though I think the last one on the page says it best.

What do Turkish papers say about matters as of late. Here’s a sampling.

There is a suspect blamed in the death of cleric Abdul Majid al-Khoei and some interesting background for musing. It gives a hint at the depths of complexity in the forces that are likely to surface in the wake of Saddam’s fall.

An interesting dispatch from northern Iraq, about the move on Kirkuk.

Gershom Gorenberg can’t escape politics, not even at a bat mitzvah party. and he finds a use for the gas mask that hadn’t been used since the start of the Iraq war.

Just to show that the entire world isn’t serious, here’s a little tidbit about a UK software company making software to turn cell phones into sex toys. I only have one question.. are phones properly waterproofed for such.. usage? Ahem.. anyway, enjoy the rest of your weekend. 😉